The Embeddedness of Global Value Chains - Institutions and Value Chain Restructuring in the Cashew Industries of India and Ivory Coast

The production, trade and consumption of agricultural commodities are in a constant state of flux. This is exemplified by the cashew industry, where the restructuring of production and processing has entailed a variety of organisational and geographical shifts over the past few decades, both between continents and within countries. This dissertation explores these processes by asking: How did the geography and organisation of the cashew industries in India and Ivory Coast evolve, and how can the restructuring be explained? I focus on the intersection of institutions and economic actors to achieve two goals. First, the study illuminates the institutional drivers of value chain restructuring within particular places. Acknowledging that value chains do not exist in a vacuum but remain embedded in geographically specific institutional settings, this study places a particular focus on the role of institutions at the state and sub-state level in shaping the geography and organisational structure of global production and trade. Second, this study develops general propositions about the relationship between the strategic behaviour of value chain actors and pressures arising from their institutional environment. For this purpose, I use an ‘institutionally enriched global value chain approach’ which links the agency of economic actors with pressures exerted by their institutional environment. Out of the interplay between firm strategies and institutional pressures, it is argued, emerge the drivers and developmental prospects associated with the globalisation of local economic activities

Nesting Chronology of South Dakota Ducks

Duck broods were censused on 476 randomly selected plots in South Dakota during July of the years 1973 through 1976. Broods were also censused on wetlands located off the study plots both in July and August of these years, except in 1976 when no August counts were made. Hatching and nest initiation dates were determined by back dating from brood age classes. Early nesting species were mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and pintails (A. acuta). Northern shovelers (A. clypeata), redheads (Aythya americana), and canvasbacks (A. valisineria) were intermediate nesters while blue-winged teal (Anas discors), gadwalls (A. strepera), and American wigeons (A. americana) were late nesters. Mallards and pintails initiated nests over the longest periods of time. Variables associated with wetland habitat, temperature, and physiography were examined by multiple regression to see if these factors influenced nest initiation dates, Results of the analyses were inconclusive. There is probably not enough variation in most of these aspects across South Dakota to allow statistical perception of potential relationships with nest initiation dates. I suggest that this type of analysis be applied to data collected over a much broader and more diverse area, the entire prairie pothole region

IMPACT OF A WARMED ENVIRONMENT, SPIKE MORPHOLOGY AND GENOTYPE ON FHB LEVELS IN A SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT MAPPING POPULATION

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and other small grains; disease severity is affected by temperature and rainfall. This research comprised three studies: an artificially warmed experiment during 2016-2017, a morphology study and an FHB resistance screening study in 2015-2016, using approximately 250 wheat cultivars and breeding lines from programs in the eastern US. The location was the University of Kentucky Spindletop Research Farm in Lexington, KY. Higher levels of Fusarium damaged kernels and the toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) were observed in the warmed treatment compared to the control, and plant development was accelerated. In the FHB resistance screen, significant (p \u3c 0.05) genotype differences for all traits were observed. A GWAS identified 16 SNPs associated with resistance and susceptibility, ranging from -2.14 to 4.01%. Three DON-associated SNPs reduced toxin levels by 3.2, 2.1, and 1.5 ppm. In the morphology study, negative correlations were observed among morphological and disease traits. Small effect SNPs were identified for all morphological traits, which might be useful in genomic selection; traits like spike length, spikelet number and inclination could be used in phenotyping. Response to warming indicates that existing resistance sources may be less effective in a warming climate

Integrated Circuits Based on 300 GHz fT Metamorphic HEMT Technology for Millimeter-Wave and Mixed-Signal Applications

Advanced circuits based on metamorphic HEMT (MHEMT)technologies on 4 ”GaAs substrates for both millimeter-wave,and mixed- signal applications are presented.Extrinsic cut-off frequencies of ft =293 GHz and fmax =337 GHz were achieved for a 70 nm gate length metamorphic HEMT echnology.The MMIC process obtains high yield on transistor and circuit level.Single-stage low-noise amplifiers demonstrate a small signal gain of 13 dB and a noise figure of 2.8 dB at 94 GHz.An amplifier MMIC developed for D-Band operation features a gain of 15 dB at 160 GHz.The achieved results are comparable to state- of-the-art InP-based HEMT technologies.In order to realize 80 Gbit/s digital circuits,a process with 100 nm gate length enhancement type HEMTs with a transit frequency of 200 GHz is used.Three metalization layers are available for interconnects.The parasitic capacitance of the interconnects is kept low by using BCB and plated air bridge technology.Based on this process,static and dynamic frequency dividers achieve a maximu toggle frequency of 70 GHz and 108 GHz,respectively

IOIS ADOPTION AND DIFFUSION A REVIEW OF PORT AND CARGO COMMUNITY SYSTEM LITERATURE

We investigate how Port and Cargo Community System (CS) adoption research has been operationalized with a Structured Literature Review approach to test whether CS adoption research has a different thematical and methodological focus than overall IS, specifically Inter-organizational Information System (IOIS) research. Despite drastic contextual changes, the dominant research paradigm and subsequently models used to investigate IS innovations\u27 adoption and diffusion mechanisms originated in the early times of computers and the internet. CS research’s different focus allows us to uncover that three underlying assumptions of the dominant paradigm should be challenged in increasingly complex environments, viz. the deterministic view on dependent variables, the independence of explanatory variables, and the independence of innovations from previous, related innovations. Our novel framework, which integrates these insights, can be used in future research and by practitioners to account for the increasing complexity of IS adoption and diffusion processes

GWAS for Fusarium Head Blight Related Traits in Winter Wheat (\u3cem\u3eTriticum Aestivum\u3c/em\u3e L.) in an Artificially Warmed Treatment

Global temperature increases will affect Fusarium head blight (FHB) levels in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A pressing question is whether current sources of resistance will be effective in a warmer environment. We evaluated phenotypic response to disease in 238 soft winter wheat breeding lines and cultivars grown in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 under control and warmed (+3 °C) conditions. Warming was achieved with heating cables buried 3 cm in the rhizosphere. We measured heading date, plant height, yield, FHB rating, Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), deoxynivalenol (DON), leaf blotch rating, powdery mildew rating and leaf rust rating. There were significant (p \u3c 0.01) differences among genotypes for all traits measured. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 19 and 10 significant SNPs in the control and warmed treatments, respectively. FDK and DON levels were often significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher in warmed than in control when we contrasted alleles at important quantitative trait locus (QTL) such as Fhb1, Rht-B1 and D1 and all vernalization and photoperiod loci. Increased rhizosphere temperature resulted in a significantly (p \u3c 0.01) earlier heading date (~3.5 days) both years of the study. Rank correlation between warmed and control treatments was moderate (r = 0.56). Though encouraging, it indicates that selection for performance under warming should be carried out in a warmed environment

Thermal behavior of metallic aluminum in a Container glass melt

The thermal behavior o f metallic aluminum was studied in the temperature ränge of 1100 to 1500°C in a Container glass melt. The dissolution of the metal was determined as a function of aluminum input, glass volume, melting time and the type of glass used. By analogy, melts containing magnesium cuttings were also investigated. With the aid of electron microscopy, it was possible to establish a reaction scheme of Oxidation and reduction processes. Only 2 to 3 % of the aluminum introduced causes the formation of silicon spheres. The main part will be oxidized through reactions with oxygen, hydroxide and polyvalent ions in the melt

Partición de Comprimidos Antineoplásicos Empleados en el Tratamiento de Leucemias Agudas en Niños y Adolescentes: un Estudio de Prevalencia

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Farmácia, 2019.Introdução: A manipulação de antineoplásicos para ajuste de dose, como partição de comprimidos, é comum no tratamento de leucemias agudas de crianças e adolescentes. Objetivo: Identificar a existência de partição domiciliar de comprimidos antineoplásicos utilizados no tratamento oral de crianças e adolescentes com leucemias agudas na fase de manutenção, e, ainda os aspectos relacionados à essa prática. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de prevalência, realizado em um hospital que pertence à rede de saúde pública do Distrito Federal com assistência especializada em pediatria. Foram incluídos no estudo crianças e adolescentes entre 1 e 18 anos diagnosticados com leucemias agudas e em fase de manutenção do tratamento. Foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado, com o objetivo identificar a existência de partição de comprimidos antineoplásicos e as condições em que o processo ocorre. Respondeu o questionário o responsável principal pela administração dos medicamentos quimioterápicos via oral, podendo ser o cuidador ou a própria criança/adolescente. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva. Resultados: Todos os 48 entrevistados responsáveis pela administração dos fármacos no período do estudo relataram ter partido comprimidos antineoplásicos ao longo do tratamento de manutenção de leucemias agudas, sendo estes mercaptopurina (n=45 [93,75%]) e tioguanina (n=3 [6,25%]). Conclusão: A partição de comprimidos antineoplásicos foi necessária objetivando ajuste de dose individual para o tratamento de leucemias agudas de crianças e adolescentes, considerando a indisponibilidade de formulações adequadas. Isso reforça a necessidade de a partição ser uniformizada e realizada de maneira a minimizar os riscos e garantir a segurança para as crianças e adolescentes e para seus cuidadores.Introduction: The manipulation of antineoplastic drugs for dose adjustment, such as tablet splitting, is standard in the treatment of acute leukemias in children and teenagers. Objective: to identify the existence of tablet splitting (home methodology) of antineoplastic tablets used in the oral treatment of children and adolescents with acute leukemias in the maintenance phase, and also the aspects related to this practice. Method: this descriptive prevalence study was performed in a hospital that belongs to the public health system from Distrito Federal (Brazil) which has specialized pediatric assistance. Children and teenagers between 1 and 18 years of age diagnosed with acute leukemias and in the maintenance phase of treatment were included in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied, aiming to identify the existence of splitting of antineoplastic tablets and the conditions in which this process occurs. The questionnaire was answered by the primary caregiver for the administration of oral chemotherapy drugs, being the caregiver be a third person or the child/adolescent it. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: all 48 interviewees responsible for administration of the drugs in the study period reported having done the splitting of antineoplastic tablets during the maintenance treatment for acute leukemias, such as mercaptopurine (n = 45 [93.75%]) and thioguanine (n = 3 [6.25%]). Conclusion: the splitting of antineoplastic tablets was necessary to adjust individual dose for the treatment of acute leukemias of children and teenagers, considering the unavailability of adequate formulations. This reinforces the need for the splitting to be standardized and performed in a way that minimizes risks and ensures safety for patients and their caregivers.Introducción: La manipulación de fármacos antineoplásicos para el ajuste de dosis, como las particiones de comprimidos, es frecuente en el tratamiento de las leucemias agudas en niños y jóvenes. Objetivo: Identificar la existencia de la partición domiciliaria de las pastillas antineoplásicas utilizadas en el tratamiento oral de niños y adolescentes con leucemia aguda en la fase de mantenimiento, así como los aspectos relacionados con esta práctica. Método: Se trata de un estudio de prevalencia descriptivo realizado en un hospital de la red de salud pública del Distrito Federal (Brasil) con asistencia especializada en pediatría. El estudio incluyó a niños y jóvenes de entre 1 y 18 años de edad diagnosticados con leucemia aguda y en fase de mantenimiento del tratamiento. Se aplicó un cuestionario semiestructurado para identificar la existencia de partición de las tabletas antineoplásicas y las condiciones en las que ocurre el proceso. El cuestionario fue completado por la persona principal responsable de la administración de fármacos quimioterapéuticos por vía oral, que puede ser el cuidador o el propio niño/joven. Se utilizaron estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: Los 48 entrevistados responsables de la administración de fármacos en el período de estudio informaron haber roto las pastillas antineoplásicas durante el tratamiento de mantenimiento de la leucemia aguda, siendo éstas mercaptopurina (n=45[93,75%]) y tioguanina (n=3[6,25%]). Conclusión: La partición de los comprimidos antineoplásicos fue necesaria para ajustar la dosis individual para el tratamiento de las leucemias agudas en niños y jovenes, considerando la falta de formulaciones apropiadas. Esto refuerza la necesidad de estandarizar y realizar la partición para minimizar los riesgos y garantizar la seguridad de los niños, jóvenes y sus cuidadores